Windy City Rhythms Goes Global Review â€“ WOW

Seeing, hearing, feeling this performance may be the only way to describe its magic. Our evening was full of surprises! And what surprises! Weâ€”and by that I do mean the entire audienceâ€”were captivated by what we saw and heard and feltâ€”the beat.

Add to that the interactive, constantly changing backdrop and all the elements merged to form one rhythmic impression. The sound of the taps, punctuate the smooth jazz.

BAM!
Photo: Jennifer Wolfe

The music provided the lilt, grace, lift and sway of the dance and the colorful light show signaled the mood of each piece. The dance was rhythmic, athletic, graceful and percussiveâ€”the way the dancers moved was punctuated the way they sounded. And their movement was just this side of ballet.

BAM!
Photo:Jennifer Wolfe

BAM! boasts one of the most diverse repertories of American tap dances in the world. Directed by
Lane Alexander and
Kristi Burris, we can look forward to new works by Spanish tap and sand dance master
Guillem Alonso,
Ted Levy and a collaborative work created by
Barbatuquesâ€™ lead percussionist,
Bruno Buarque in coming 20th anniversary concerts in 2010.

Jason Samuels Smith
Photo: Carl McClarty

Next, we were astonished by the energy, agility and--yes! you guessed it!--rhythm of
Jason Samuels Smith (
Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk). His feet, arms, legs just flyâ€”and all without musical accompaniment. He plays a drum solo without drums.

Barbatuques Totem
Photo: Chicago Human Rhythm Project

And then we were enthralled by the Chicago debut of the Brazilian â€śbody-bandâ€ť
Barbatuques.

Amazingly, they create an unpredictable visual and auditory feast full of joyous mayhem and audience interaction.

Barbatuques Hand Circle
Photo: Chicago Human Rhythm Project

We were so completely mesmerized, we clapped, shouted, hummed and gladly played along.

Barbatuques Septet
Photo: Chicago Human Rhythm Project

At one point, the
Barbatuques ran into the audience. One even came and drummed on my knee! Who knew my knee had rhythm? Another surprise!

COMING THIS SUMMER

Chicago Human Rhythm Projectâ€™s 2009 season continues with the
19th Annual Rhythm World, the oldest and most comprehensive festival of American tap in the world,
July 27â€“August 9 at the
Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, the
Fine Arts Building,
Chicago Cultural Centerâ€™s Claudia Cassidy Theater,
Roosevelt Universityâ€™s Ganz Hall,
Loyola University and the
MCA. The season concludes with
Global Rhythms, contemporary percussive arts performances featuring the Chicago debut of Washington D.C.â€™s
Step Afrika!, November 19, 20, 21 at the
Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park. For information, visit
chicagotap.org and check the
Chicago-Splash calendar so you wonâ€™t miss a beat!